First Edition Points and Criteria for The Bridge of San Luis Rey

Year Published: 1927
Author Last Name: Wilder
Author First Name: Thornton
Publisher: Albert & Charles Boni
Original Price: $2.50
Pages: 235

The first U.S. edition was published in November, 1927. There were between 7,000 and 9,000 copies produced. Title page should state 1927 and the copyright page should state 1927 with no statements of subsequent printings. The bottom of the copyright page should say "Manufactured in the United States of America".

First issue dust jacket is extremely rare and adds most of the value to the book. It carries a $2.50 price on the upper corner of the front flap, and reviews of the author's first book, the Cabala, on the back.

The UK edition by Longmans is thought to precede the U.S. edition by a few days and the printing histories stated on later printings of both the U.S. and the UK editions support that belief. A fifth printing of the U.S. edition shows that it was first published in November 1927, while an eight printing of the UK edition shows that it was first published in October 1927. Despite this, the UK edition does not seem to be more valuable than the U.S. edition in the market. That might be because Wilder was an American author.

The first UK edition says 1927 on the bottom of the title page and there is no references to subsequent impressions on the copyright page or the title page.

The Bridge of San Luis Rey won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. This book is also one of Time Magazine's 100 Best Novels. Other Time 100 Novels include The Sun Also Rises and Gone with the Wind


This is a picture of the first U.S. edition of The Bridge of San Luis Rey.


This is the copyright page of the first U.S. edition. There is no statements of subsequent printings.


Picture of dust jacket where original $2.50 price is found for the first U.S. edition of The Bridge of San Luis Rey.


Picture of the back dust jacket for the first U.S. edition of The Bridge of San Luis Rey.


This is the first U.S. edition boards for The Bridge of San Luis Rey.


Picture of the back flap of the dust jacket for the first U.S. edition of The Bridge of San Luis Rey.


Picture of the title page for the first U.S. edition of The Bridge of San Luis Rey. 1927 is stated on the bottom.


This is a picture of the first UK edition published by Longmans, Green and Company.


This is the copyright page of the first UK edition. There is no statements of subsequent impressions.


Picture of the front dust jacket flap for the first UK edition of The Bridge of San Luis Rey.


Picture of the back dust jacket for the first UK edition of The Bridge of San Luis Rey.


This is the first UK edition boards for The Bridge of San Luis Rey.


Picture of the back flap of the dust jacket for the first UK edition of The Bridge of San Luis Rey.


This is the title page of the first UK edition. It states 1927 on the bottom.


Autograph: Signature of Thornton Wilder.

Other first edition points for books by Thornton Wilder include: Heaven's My Destination, The Eighth Day.